Can I just ask anyone shipping or having shipped their cat when they started the whole process. we are hoping to be looking at about 8 months until we can move and want to take our 10 year old cat. I have read some threads about my options (check-in??) and the traditional Ladyhaye type but I just wondered about when to get the shots (do we need some?) started and the pet passport etc etc.
as you can most probably tell I have no clue about this, whatsoever

Also give the transport companies a call to understand lead times.

ah yes - good plan. Thank you
I will research threads now on recommended shipping companies

Hi there-

We shipped our 2 kittys over here a couple of months ago. We got their pet passports (all done thru a registered vet) It includes Micro chipping, Rabies jabs, and updating boosters etc; they also have a blood test to ensure that the Rabies vaccine is successful. I believe that a Rabies jab is not necessary; but we wanted to ensure that if we should decide to return, our kitties would not have to go into quarantine in the UK. It was all pretty painless; but a bit long winded and quite expensive; but we do have 2 cats.

The day before they flew; we had to get a letter from the vet saying that they were 'fit to fly' - they just check their temperature, heart and breathing etc.

We shipped our boys over via Air Canada Cargo. They were checked in with our suitcases, and collected the other end with our suitcases... Air Canada were FABULOUS and took really great care of them (and me... I think I was more stressed than the cats ) I know you can pay companies to do the shipping - but they can cost you a lot of money. We shipped 2 cats for £109 + the cost of the air crate, £80.

At the other end we just presented their Pet Passports - the officer just checked that they had their Rabies jabs etc. It did not cost us anything more; but I have read that some people were charged around $40 for a vet check when they arrived??? The cats were absolutely brilliant - not stressed at all.

One thing I would check is the time of year you will be thinking of travelling - some airlines will not ship 'live cargo' at certain times of the year; due to extreme heat\cold.

I hope this helps but you can always PM if you need any more infomation.

Good luck with your new adventure...

Thank you!! This helps immensley! We would much prefer to take him in this way also, checkin at the same time as us and pick up at the other end. I shall give the vet a call tomorrow to see what lead times we need.
Thanks again

Also bear in mind that you don't necessarily need to get your cat a pet passport. You only need one if you are planning on returning to the UK with your cat. We didn't bother with pet passports for our cat and dog - just made sure they had the necessary export papers. Worked out cheaper than applying for a pet passport.

Natasha, we didn't have to get a pet passport, just a rabies shot 30 days before travelling and then a vets fitness to fly for the 'defra' form. The Defra form again is not essential, but the company we sent our cat with insisted upon it! L x

I feel that we need to cover all areas, just in case we have to come back for any reason, I certainly dont want him in quarantine.....as that would make it all even more miserable

We're planning on going from UK to Toronto at the end of Sept. We're taking our cat with us and trying to sort it out. Air Canada said if we fly with them then it's much cheaper to take cat as excess baggage rather than cargo and we fly with differnet airline - however Air Transat would cost us £700 for flights and Air Canada is £2k so we need to work out the cost benefits and cargo vs excess baggage fees.

However, we need to order a crate first - does anyone know where you can get an airline approved crate from in the UK? Any websites? I think the Wiki directed me to a US site and google wasn't a huge help.

Thanks!!

How did you collect your pussies when you landed - assume they didn't come round on the luggage carousel!?

Hi there - not quite; they do arrive in the bag collection area though - but where you would collect oversized items like golf clubs and pushchairs etc.. They were actually there before our luggage too...

Hi there - We got out crate from: www.animalinstinct.co.uk but there are loads around. I think big chains like Pets at home and Petsmart do them too.

Thanks. Do you then have to go to the animal reception centre, or can you just leave??